Day 2 of farmer stir sees vegetable prices soar
Retail prices of vegetables shot up in some cities and fresh supply of farm produce was hit as the farmers’ agitation entered the second day on Saturday. A Left-affiliated body said the agitation would intensify from June 5. Agitating farmers stopped supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other items to various cities.
Retail prices of vegetables shot up in some cities and fresh supply of farm produce was hit as the farmers' agitation entered the second day on Saturday with a Left-affiliated body saying the stir would intensify from June 5.
Agitating farmers stopped supply of vegetables, fruits, milk, and other items to various cities. Though the impact of farmers’ stir on price of farm commodities was not visible on Friday, the retail prices of vegetables in several cities rose by ~10-20 per kg on Saturday.
Several farmers' organisations have jointly called the 10day protest across 22 states in the country demanding remunerative prices for their produce, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and farm loan waivers, among others.
In Mumbai, the Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) accused the Maharashtra government of having a "negative approach" to the protest.
"Farmers across the state are holding protests but the government seems to have a negative approach over keeping the promises it had made to farmers last month,” AIKS general secretary Ajit Navle told reporters. At a meeting of farmers’ organisations on Saturday, it was decided that the protests would be intensified from June 5, he said.
“We have given a call to farmers to stop selling their produce meant for cities,” Navle said. Delhi may face problems in supply of fresh vegetables, fruits and other perishables in the next week in case the farmers’ stir in neighbouring states intensifies.
Trucks of vegetables, fruits and other food items reached Delhi today but if the farmers resort to strict enforcement of
IT IS NATURAL ANY FARMERS’ ORGANISATION WILL HAVE 1,000-2,000 FARMERS AS MEMBERS. IT IS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING UNUSUAL SO THAT THEY GET PUBLICITY IN THE MEDIA" RADHA MOHAN SINGH, Union Agriculture Minister, quoted as saying by ANI
cutting supply to the cities, the situation may deteriorate from next week, said Adil Khan, chairman of Azadpur Mandi.
“The Mandis in Delhi have stocks of the vegetables and other items. The stocks are enough to meet demand for next two days. After that if fresh supplies do not arrive, situation may worsen,” he said.
According to traders in Chandigarh, the price of tomatoes soared to ~20-25 per kg against ~10-15 per kg prevailing two days ago. Similarly, retail prices of potatoes, capsicum, bottle gourd, cucumber, have also gone up on short supplies.